John Anthony Fingleton’s most recent poem to appear here was “Shadow Child” (October 2019).
Asunción—The Lido Bar
By John Anthony Fingleton
It’s a hazy day in Paraguay,
Which sometimes the rain obliterates,
Still there are traders selling chipas on the streets.
A young black haired Guaraní girl,
With a tray of Brazilian chocolate bars
Balanced on her head—
Is doing her best to sell them as a treat.
The guys that exchange money.
Be it Dollars or the Real;
Are again asking me to change what I’ve got,
But when I mention Euros,
They look the other way—
They don’t get many gringos here that come from Cork.
The Lido bar is fully packed,
With one or two brave souls outside,
And the Pantheon across the street is closed up for the day.
There are some Indians selling trinkets,
To a few tourists from the States,
Inflated by whatever they will pay.
We find a couple of empty stools,
That people have abandoned for the rain,
And order some cervezas and beef croquets,
We pass some happy hours just watching,
The world go on its way,
Even on this rainy day—when everyone is wet.
